Combined artist&#39;s case and easel.



UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

JOHN H. DEENEY AND FERDINAND H. KAMPS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINED ARTISTS CASE AND EASEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Application filed. October 10, 1911, Serial No. 653,818. Renewed. May 24, 1913. Serial No. 769,764.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN H. DEENEY and FERDINAND H. KAMrs, both citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Artists Cases and Easels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in combined artist case and easel, and it is an object of the invention to provide a com-l pact carrying means for conveying the materials and appliances used by an artist together with an easel for supporting the same when sketching, drawing, painting or the like.

It is also an object of the invention to pro-. vide a combined artists carrying case and a supporting easel therefor which is adapted to be folded into compact form so that the whole may be readily carried from place to place.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved carrying case and easel as set up for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the front of the case when the parts have been folded in readiness for portage. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the case showing the easel folded thereon. Fig. 1 is a detail vertical sectional view through the upper part of the easel and carrying case, showing the means whereby a canvas may be adjustably held in position for work.

The details of the invention will now be more particularly described, reference being had to the said drawing in which 1 indicates a case preferably of rectangular flat form, and generally approximately of the size and shape of an ordinary suit case. The casing is made open at the front and is adapted to be closed when not in use as an easel, by a screen frame 2 and a palette which are adjustably secured at the opposite ends of the said case.

The casing is adapted to be set up with its longitudinal axis in an approximately vertical plane and'for the purpose of holding it in position for use as an easel, it is provided with adjustable easel legs and braces secured to the back of the casing as shown in Fig. 3. The legs 4 and 5 are preferably arranged at the proper angle with respect to each other coming close together at one end and spreading apart so as to pass the corners of the case at the other end. The said easel legs are adjustable, each having a fixed portion 6 fastened to the back of the case 1 and a longitudinal adjustable section 7 adapted to be drawn outwardly so as to support the whole easel structure at the proper height. The sections 7 are slotted longitudinally at 8 and engage clamping pins 9 having thumb nuts 10 by which the said adjusting sections may be clamped in any adjusted position. The said leg sections 7 may thus be extended as shown in Fig. 1 to hold the case in upright position to support the artists canvas and other materials. A brace is also pivoted to the back at 12 and is provided with an extension section 13 adapted to slide upon the pivoted portion of the brace, the said extension section 13 being also provided with an elongated slot 141 which engages a clamping pin 15. A thumb nut 16 upon said pin is employed for clamping the extension section in its different adjusted positions. When folded against the back of the case 1, the brace 11 preferably engages a recess formed in a projection 17 secured to the back of the casing, a turn button l8' being provided which holds the brace in its folded position against the back as shown in Fig. 3. hen in folded position the parts of the easel support do not project beyond the casing more than their thickness so that the said parts are not in the way in carrying the case. When the easel is set up, the leg sections 7 and the extension section 13 are extended as shown in Fig. 1, the case 1 being turned upon end. The front of the case is then opened by moving the screen frame 2 outwardly and upwardly and the palette frame 3 outwardly and downwardly. To facilitate the adjustment of the said frames 2 and 3 the frame 2 is carried by adjustable arms 19, which are pivoted to the case 1 and adjustably held thereon by bolts 20 and thumb nuts 21, and pivoted to the frame 2 in like manner, and held by means of bolts having clamping thumb nuts 22 so that the angle at which the said frame is placed with respect to the easel may be adjusted and controlled. The frame 2 is usually covered by a suitable artists canvas or other material so as to properly shade the canvas upon which the artist may desire to work and which is mounted in the case 1 below as indicated at 23. The frame 2 is preferably covered with the, arnisinay be adjusted to higher or lower points for accommodating the screen eX- actly. to the artists requirements. The -palette frame3 is also .mounted upon arms 24 pivoted to the case, at their inner endsand tothe frame 3-at their outer ends. Clamping nuts 25 andQGaiford means for clamping the said arms 24: at different angles with respect tothe case land the palette frame 3 with'respect to said arms and the casing 1.

LThe palette frame 3 is provided with a recessed depression .27 forming a rabbet groove in which ,a palette 28 of ordinary construction may be placed. :Turn buttons 29 and 30 are carried by :the frame 13'f0r holding the palette inposition in the groove 27. The palette may thus be allowed to remain in the frame 1 in use by the artist or it may be taken therefromand held in the'hand in the .usual way.

The case 1 is provided withia partition 31 :which divides the space closed by the frame 2 from; that closed by the: frame 3, the said frames just fittingo-ver said spaces as shown in Fig. 2. Below the partition 31 consider- 7 iiig the same when the easel is set up, one or more partitions 32 and 33 are employed for forming compartments in the casing for receiving the artists materials; thus an elongated compartment 34 may be provided for the artists brushesand a largerectangular eompartment'35 may be provided for paints and other materials while a larger cou'ipar-tment 36 may be also formed for carrying other articles,as for instance-a folding camp stoolor other rest for the artist. The space in the case 1 upon the other side of the partition 31 is preferably arranged to receive one ormore canvases usually stretched upon frames for artists work. 'The said canvases maybe properly held in place and spaced-from each other by means of cleats 37 and 38 which extend alongthe inner surface of the walls of the case 1. A hinge cover 39 is secured to the upperend of the boxiand is adapted to be folded down over the edges of the canvaseswhen they are packed within the case.

In using the easel a canvas as 23-may be left in position between the cleats in the case or may be set forward upon the partition 31 and tipped outwardly to any desired degree=as shown in-Figi In this-instance an adjustable bar e0 is provided upon near the cover 39, its outer end being formed with canvas engaging pro ections 11, while its inner end is adapted to he slipped into a clamp 42, carried upon the cover 39, the said clamp having a thumb screw 43 for impinging uponthe bar 40 and holding it inadjusted positions. The use of such a bar is advantageous sinceit permits of the tipping of the easel backwardly from the artist and yet permits of his; arranging the canvasupon which he is working at any desired angle.

Tlhecasing l is provided with any suitable handle M by which it may be carried when in folded shape. The cover 39 is usually provided with a hook 45 or othersuitable latch which is arranged to engage-an eye 46 upon .the frame 2 when the case is closed.

It will be observed that theeasel is not only well adapted for use in supplying all the needs of'an-iartist in the fieldor else- =where, but when folded .is adapted to receiveza-nd carry all ofithe appliancesand materials --which. fl1(5:rlll31Sl3 -may desire to 'CELlIyWVlth him. Such materials and appliances usually .make a very heavy package or bundle to be carried from place .to place but by; theuse vof thexeasel .described the weight-which must be carried is greatly reduced andthe'devicemay becarried in compact form.

What. we claim is:

1. An easel comprising a carrying case having adjustable supporting. leg portions secured thereto, an adjustablepalette, and

.an adjustable screen adapted to form the front of said-casing when it is carried from place to place, and means for holdingsaid palette andscreen 111 1311611"-*Cl'lflQfGIibitCljUSiled positions.

2. An easel comprising a carrying case adapted who set upon end-when used as an easel, a supporting tripod connected with said case for holding it in-easel position, a

palette adapted to form part of the front wall of the casing, adjustable arms carrying the same, ascreen also adapted to form a-portion of the front of-the casing, ad- ]L1St&lOlB 2Ll111S carrying the-said screen, and

a hinged end: portion for completely closing the casingwhen it is carried from place to place and yet permitting of the arrangement and withdrawal of a canvasto be painted.

3. A combined artists case and easel com- -3118111 all lOn' a/ted rece tacle a tri 30d ar- '3 D 4 7 v rangedlongitudinally of'the back thereof for supporting it in-easel position, one wall of said receptacle when in closed position "being made up of a palette carrying frame and a screen carrying frame, arms adjustably secured to the palette frame-and adjustably connected with the receptacle'for holding the palette in operable position-and actashingesfor the closing ofthe said receptacle by the palette frame,-.andarms adjustably connected with the screen "frame and also having adjustable connection withthe receptacle for holding the screen in different positions and acting as hinges for the folding of the frame in the closing of the receptacle.

4:. An easel structure comprising a casing, an adjustable easel support therefor, the said casing having compartments formed therein, means for holding a canvas or other Working surface in position in one of said compartments, a screen frame adjustably carried by the casing, a palette frame adjustably mounted on the casing, the said screen Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the frame and palette frame being adapted to close the front of the casing and an edge 15 cover adapted to fold over the end of the case for entirely closing the same.

In Witness that We claim the foregoing We have hereunto subscribed our names this 11th day of July, 1911.

JOHN H. DEENEY. F. H. KAMPS.

Witnesses:

CAssELL SnvERANoE, EARLE R. PoLLARD.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

